intended to come to them then. He'd thought to
bring young Ryo to see his mother, but the
warning that Kiri was in need of rest had changed
his plans. Instead, he'd taken the boy to his room
and told him his favorite bedtime story as a cub.
He couldn't help the wash of pride that swept
over him as the boy avidly listened to his story, his
eyelids growing heavier by the minute until he
drifted off into a much-needed slumber. The boy
needed rest, security and kindness--and not
necessarily in that order. Now, with the young one
asleep, nothing would keep him from his mate.
He'd been curious, needing to see her, yet he'd
kept his promise to her about their young son.
Seeing to his needs before all else. Now he was
free to wonder why she was in need of rest when
she returned to the safety of the ship. What had
she done on the surface of the planet below that
had worn her out? Even though she lay flushed
and panting from the sex sharing she'd just had
with Drace, Fury could see the shadows of strain
below her eyes. Through his bond with Drace, he
could feel his concern for her even as he leaned
down to kiss her forehead.
"Are you well, Kiri?"
She smiled. It was a sleepy, well-sated smile
that made him want to drag her to him and hold
her tight and safe against him as she basked in her
afterglow. "Couldn't be better," she murmured,
her voice slurring as she began to fall into an
exhausted slumber.
Fury chuckled. She was so sexy in her sated
sprawl. He doubted she even realized who was
speaking to her. He'd have to change that.
Straightening from the doorway where he'd
stopped to watch them, Fury strode toward the
bed. Stopping near her head, he reached out,
pulled a lock of her curly red hair into his hand. So
soft to the touch, he thought--such a beautiful
contrast to his dark skin. "All went well on the
planet then?"
A frown marred her brow. She turned her head
away, and Drace rolled off her to pull her into his
arms. He could feel her sadness, Drace's concern.
The smell of sex in the room, stirred him. His body
raged, needing the comfort and solace of his
mate's soft body. Even knowing her body lay
naked beneath the sheet and that she was his for
the taking, he curbed his desire. His mind
controlled his body, not the other way around
and, right now, his mate needed her rest. Besides,
something wasn't right. He could sense it. "What
happened, mi ama?"
"There were many, many Hienials in need of
healing. It was tiring."
Drace shook his head. "It was more than tiring,
Kiri. You practically drained yourself beyond
return, by healing the Hienial youthlings."
"What?" Fury shouted, began to shake. "You
did what?" Unable to stand looking at her hurt
expression, Fury whirled around and stormed out
of the room. He didn't want to upset her with his
worry. Healing the Hienials? Why would she do
such a thing? He ran his dark fingers through his
ebony hair and paced away from the room at a
near run. He'd come back later when he could talk
to her without his fear for her tingeing his voice.
* * * *
Nervously, Kiri knocked on Fury's cabin door. It
had taken nearly a quarter of a dial to talk Drace
into telling her where Fury may have gone.
After a few seconds, the door slid open. Fury
was seated on his bed, his head down and his
shoulders slumped. She noted the chair across
from the bed and quickly crossed the room and sat
down. Desperate to set things right, she moistened
her dry lips. He raised his head, quirked his
eyebrows questioningly. "Why have you come to
me, Kiri?"
She noted his set face, his clamped mouth and
fixed eyes. He stayed still, almost as though he
thought any movement would frighten her. Kiri
longed to feather her fingers through his dark
hair. She wanted nothing more than to smooth the
deep frowns from his chocolate face. Drace had
and she wondered, her face burning, if Fury's skin
would taste so sweet. She bit her lip, twisted her
hands in her lap, unsure just what to say. What if
he didn't want her? Well, she wouldn't know if
she didn't speak to him about it. She raised her
gaze to his. "You left, Fury. Once you found out
what I could do, you left as though I disgusted
you."
The lines of concentration deepened along his
brows and under his dark eyes. "Is that what you
thought? That using your gifts to heal others--
even the Hienials--disgusts me?" He sighed,
flexed his shoulders then stepped forward taking
her hand in his.
"I only heard how you grew weaker with every
healing. You put yourself in danger for those
beasts and I find that hard to handle, Kiri. I left
only to calm myself. To know that you were in
danger and I wasn't there if you needed me, well,
it angered me. Even if Drace was with you, I
wasn't." His tone was apologetic, his gaze sincere.
She sighed in relief. "Thank you. I'm..." she
paused, trying to find the right words to ease his
worry. "I will do my best not to overextend myself
again. I don't want to cause you or Drace any
more distress."
When he spoke again, his voice was tender
almost a murmur. "Oh, love. Don't worry about
us." He cupped her cheek and she couldn't help
but tilt her head further into his hand. "You were
meant to heal others. It is your gift. Just know that
you will never be alone when you use it. It is our
duty--our privilege--as your mates to protect you
even from yourself."
She felt a warm glow flow through her at his
words. His simple statement of intent eased
something inside her. "So, you didn't leave
Drace's room because you couldn't stand the sight
of me?"
He removed his hand from her cheek to brush
his hair back from his face. A devilish look came
into his eyes and his mouth quirked up in
amusement. "Are you asking me if I find you
attractive?"
Her breath quickened. Her cheeks became
warm beneath his intense gaze. His thumb
caressed the hand he still held tenderly. She saw
the heart-rending tenderness of his gaze and all
thoughts fled her mind.
Already, she knew he would never force her to
be with him intimately. She could feel his fierce
determination that nothing ever be allowed to
harm her. Every time his gaze met hers, her heart
turned over in response.
His gaze dropped from her face to her
shoulders, then finally to her breasts. Slowly and
seductively, his gaze s
lid downward. She cleared
her throat, pretending his slow perusal didn't
affect her. "Well, I guess I better..."
"You better stay with me. I want to make love
to you, Kiri. Will you allow it? Will you give
yourself to me?"
Kiri hesitated only a moment then nodded. This
was right, the right thing to do. She didn't fear
him or what they would do together. Drace had
already showed her how a mate loves his woman
and now she wanted to make love to her other
mate, to Fury.
"Strip me."
Kiri stood up, stepped forward. With shaking
hands, she reached for the buttons on his uniform
shirt. "Yes, Sir," she said as she slipped the first
from its fastening.
Each button bared more of his dark skin to her
gaze. Closing her eyes, she nuzzled his chest,
seeking one of his nipples. She pulled it into her
mouth and suckled gently.
Fury's hand closed around the nape of her
neck, holding her head to his chest as his fingers
gently massaged her scalp. She slid her hand
inside his shirt, using the pads of her fingers and
her fingernails to stroke the other nipple into a
hardened point. Where she got up the nerve to be
the aggressor, she didn't know. But, somehow, it
felt right to take the lead. To prove to him that she
wanted him with everything inside her no matter
her traumatic past.
She trailed her lips lower, placing open-
mouthed kisses along the length of his torso. Fury
groaned and Kiri smiled against his chest.
Unbuttoning the rest of his shirt, she slid the
confining garment from his shoulders, letting it
fall to the floor in a puddle. She slowly lowered
herself to her knees, placed her palm against the
solid ridge of his still covered cock. She could feel
his need, smell his essence through his clothing
and it excited her more than she ever thought
possible.
Fury's fingers closed on her shoulders, gripped
her lightly. "Wait." Restraint filled his voice. Kiri
sat back on her heels. She looked up at him,
confused. "Why? Don't you like what I'm doing?"
Her hands trembled against his erection. "Doesn't
it feel good?"
"Yes, my mate. It feels too good, though. If you
keep touching me, I won't be able to make love to
you like you deserve."
Kiri unlaced his tight trews. His cock surged
thick and strong through the opening of his pants.
Her pussy clenched. She leaned forward and
pressed a kiss against the weeping head of his
shaft. "Then tell me what to do, Fury. Tell me how
to please you."
She watched with hooded eyes as Fury
trembled beneath her touch. "Just finish stripping
me, mi ama." She watched as he swallowed
thickly, his hands clenched at his sides. It was then
she realized the power he held as a woman with
her two men. They may be physically stronger
than her, but she held the upper hand right now.
The thought had her smiling to herself as she
watched her mighty warrior tremble beneath her
touch.
Quickly she went back to her task, stripping his
pants and boots from him with a swift efficiency
she hadn't known she was capable of.
"Now, take off your robe," he said, his voice
husky with desire, when she'd removed the last of
his clothes. Without hesitating, she untied the belt
around her waist and shrugged out of her only
covering, letting it join the pile of clothes already
on the floor of Fury's cabin. She vowed to stand
there silently, refusing to shield her body from her
mate no matter how ridiculous she felt remaining
so still and exposed before him. What must he
think of her? He stood so silent, his gaze so intent
she didn't know what he was thinking. She
couldn't begin to guess what he thought, what he
felt, about the way she so shamelessly stood
before him.
Kiri locked gazes with Fury, silently waiting for
him to tell her what to do next. He held out his
hand to her, and she gently gripped it, threading
their fingers together. Fury smiled. Dimples
winked in his cheeks as he stepped backward,
moving her slowly toward the bed.
When they finally reached it, he sat down on
the edge, pulling her between his thighs. Picking
her up with ease, Fury pulled her over him.
"Straddle me, my love. Ride me. Take as much or
as little of me as you'd like."
Kiri could feel the smile spreading across her
face. With Drace, he'd been in charge, controlling
their lovemaking, the positioning and the pace.
The idea that Fury would allow her to take charge
was a blessing she wasn't about to snub. Nodding,
she oh-so slowly poised herself above his cock.
She reached down and circled his girth with her
fingers. He was so big, she was thankful he'd
made the decision for her to take the lead.
When her fingers closed around the base of his
shaft, she slipped the head inside her. Fury
moaned. She could feel his pleasure through their
newly formed bond. She lifted her hips just
slightly then lowered herself again, taking more of
his cock inside her.
Her breath hitched. Her heart stuttered. He
filled her passage to overflowing, stretching her
unbelievably tight. She savored the feel of him
inside her, stretching her, caressing her in places
she'd never known existed before today.
"That's it, mi ama. You can take me," Fury
murmured.
She slowly slipped, centimeter by centimeter,
down his cock. Goddess he was so wide, so thick
and hard inside her. She shuddered, sending him
even deeper inside her weeping channel.She
couldn't think, couldn't breathe. The feel of his
cock so deep inside her sent her thoughts
tumbling into the ether. She lowered herself the
last few inches, until his entire length was clasped
inside her channel. She could feel him pushing
against her womb and began to shudder. He
leaned forward, took her face gently in his hands
and placed his lips against hers. She sank into the
kiss, explored his mouth, luxuriated in his warmth
and caring.
He filled her so completely. Her hips began to
move restlessly, needing him to thrust, to make
love to her. She gripped his shoulders to brace
herself as she eased his cock almost completely
out of her then slid down again. They rocked
together in a gentle rhythm. Kiri struggled to
retain some measure of control.
Fury reached between her legs and flicked his
fingers over her pleasure bud. She pulled her lips
from his. Sitting back on her heels, she looked him
in the eye, swallowed thickly. "Please, Fury. Make
love to me. Show me how you feel about me."
He g
ently took her breasts in his hands and
lightly pinched her nipples.
Kiri cried out. The pleasure pain pressure of her
climax hit her without warning. She leaned
forward, screamed against his throat as the ripples
of her orgasm roared through her body.
Fury obeyed her plea, rolling Kiri beneath him.
She had the presence of mind to lift her legs and
press her heels into his buttocks before he plunged
into her. Her channel clasped his cock, refusing to
release him as he thrust into her pussy. Over and
over again, he drove into her until finally his
entire body stiffened. With a roar, he came, his hot
seed bathing her womb with jet after jet of his
come.
Neither said anything for long moments.
Finally, Fury shifted, rolled them until she was
draped over his chest. "Why don't we get cleaned
up, then sit in the chair and talk for a bit. I'm sure
Drace will be along before we know it."
Kiri nodded and together the pair made their
way to his bathing chamber.
* * * *
It didn't take long for Drace to join them. He
entered the room, pulled her right off Fury's lap
and out of the chair. The sheet she'd wrapped
around herself drifted to the carpet as he clasped
her against his hard frame, his chest to her back
with his arms wrapped around her waist.
Fury stared at the hard points of her nipples,
licked his lips. She could see the raw hunger in his
gaze, felt his need to mate with her through their
ever-strengthening bond. She shivered beneath his
heated stare. Behind her, she felt Drace's cock rise
and press against her backside.
Her response to both males was so powerful. It
was almost overwhelming. They'd already had
sex, and yet she craved them, craved something
more than just the one-on-one sex sharing they'd
participated in.
Was it lust or something more, maybe the first
stirrings of love? Was it even possible for her to
love a man after all she'd been through? Heat
surged up her body and her pleasure bud
throbbed for attention, yet again. If anything, the
passion between them burned brighter and hotter
than before. How could her exhausted body
respond to them so quickly? After all of the loving
she'd already shared with these two men, it only
took one look from them and she was ready to
make love again. A week ago, she never could
have imagined herself feeling this way for any